Fire-extinguisher standpipe



.March 26, 1929. B. REDDEMANN FIRE EXTINGUISHER STANDPIPE Filed April 5, 1926 Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,706,821 PATENT OFFICE.

BERNHABD REDDEMANN, OF BERLIN-LIGHTEBFELDE, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO PYRENE-EINIMAX CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

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Application filed April 5, 1926, Serial No. 99,947, and in Germany April 6, 1925.

My invention relates to an extinguisher standpipe capable of being erected in front of a structure such as a tank or the like. It is frequently desirable to apply a jet pipe to the hearth of a fire from the ground without the use of ladders. This is, for instance, the case when a tank containing benzene, petrol or the like has caught fire. In the case of such fires it is not possible to place a ladder against the tank in order to direct the squirting nozzle from it against the fire. In the case of certain extinguishing agents, for instance when employing foam it is, furthermore, not possible to project the extinguishing agent in form of a jet against the hearth of the fire, since on the one hand the target would easily be missed on account of the light foam being blown away by the wind and since on the other hand the jet of foam becomes easily decomposed so that only individual flakes of foam reach the hearth of the fire which do not easily combine to form a continuous protective cover onthe liquid to be protected.

These drawbacks are entirely eliminated "by the extinguisher standpipe according to my invention. This standpipe preferably consists of a plurality of 'oined sections so that the pipeline may e shortened .or lengthened as required. An auxiliary appliance consisting of a framework having'a roller atits apex may be provided in order 'to facilitate erection of the pipe. Upon the pipe itself are mounted supports or legs which after the erection of the pipe are dug into the ground at suitable angles. At its lower end the standpipe is provided with a counter-Weight which preferably consists of a water box so that by varying the charge 40 of this box the magnitude of the balancing weight canbe adapted to requirements. At its upper end the standpipe is referably provided witha movable mouthp ece which mayeit-her be a nozzle "or jet pipe or a-foam descent pipe.

In the drawing aflixed hereto an embodiment of my invention is illustrated by way of example.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is the improved standpipe erected for service in side-elevation,

Fig; 2 is-a front elevation of the trestle employedfor erecting the stand ipe and for supporting the erected pipe, an

1g. 3 1s a view of, the top part of a. modified form of standpipe which is in this case provided with a movable and adjustable jet pipe.

Referring to the drawing, a is a tank projecting considerably above the ground and filled with an easily inflammable liquid fuel or the like. Over the top edge of this tank is passed the elongated standpipe b composed of a plurality of sections. In the adjusted position, the pipe I) is secured by supports a, c which in the drawing are shown one behind the other but in practice will preferably be placed side by side. These supports or legs are hinged to the pipe at their upper ends d and are at their lower ends provided with foot plate e, e preventing them from penetrating too far into the soil, as well known. Instead of the two supports 6, e illustrated more than two, for instance three may be employed which after erection form a pyramid. The angle of the supports with the ground depends upon the height to which the pipe 6 is to be carried up. The pipe rests apart from the supports 0, 0' also on the trestle f which may be provided with side supports 9 and carries at its apex a roller h. For the purpose of bringing the pipe into position, it is first pushed obliquely across the roller 11. and carried upwards to the desired height whereupon the supports 0, a are rammed into the ground. For further securing the pi e in its erected position, it may be provided with a strap 8 slidable longitudinally and adapted to be secured in posltion by a pressure or clamping screw t and to be connected with the trestle f by chains a. To facilitate the erection of the pipe it is provided at its lower end at which a supply hose 5 can be attached with a water box is serving as counter-weight and furni'sh ed with a valve 1 for draining part'of the water off and thus regulating the action of the counterweight. According to Fig. 1 of thedrawing, a pipe n is attached by means of a hinge m upon the upper end of the pipe b and hangs downwards. This pipe at is preferably closed at its lower end and provided with a. number of openings 0 for the escape of the foam which are surrounded by cup-shaped structures p or dished flanges q running around the pipe. Usually the foam will issue from the lower openings of the tube a and thus slide from a small height downupon the burning liquid over the edge of the cup-shaped structures. If, however no the pipe n dips into the contents of the tank a the foam issues from the openings 0 adjacent to the burning surface.

If the standpipe' is intended to be used for squirting water or foam,'it may be provided at its upper end with a nozzle or spray pipe 1-, as shown in Fig. 3, which is hinged or jointed at m and remains in any adjusted position.

It .will be. understood that modifications in the details maybe made without departing from the principles and-scope of my in vention which shouldbe judged in the light of prior knowledge.

I claim as my invention:

1'. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a rigid pipe, a

trestle having at its upper end a bearing adapted to slidably support said pipe intermediate its ends, and a plurality of anchoring and supporting legs hinged tosaid pipe at one side of said trestle.

2. A device of the class described comprising in combination, a rigid pipe, a trestle having at its upper end a bearing adapted to slidably support said pipe intermediate its prising in combination,

ends, a plurality of anchoring and supporting legs hinged to said pipe at one side of said trestle, and a variable counterweight on said pipe at the other side of said trestle.

3. A device of the class described coma rigid pipe, a trestle having at its upper end a bearing adapted to slidably support said pipe intermediate its ends, a plurality of anchoring and supportinglegs hinged to said pipe at one side of said trestle, and a variable counterweight on said pipe at the other side of said trestle, comprising a tank adapted to contain liquid and, having a drain valve in v the bottom thereof.

justable strap on said pipe, and means for connecting said strap to said trestle.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

DR. BERNHARD REDDEMANN. 

